The NFL on CBS: Week 17 Sunday, Dec. 30

The CBS Television Network, home of Super Bowl XLVII, continues its 53rd year broadcasting the NFL with coverage of THE NFL ON CBS on Sunday, Dec. 30 (1:00-7:00 PM, ET) beginning with THE NFL TODAY, the Network’s one-hour studio show (12:00 NOON-1:00 PM, ET), live from THE NFL TODAY studio in New York City.

THE NFL ON CBS lead announce team of Jim Nantz and Phil Simms call the action live from the Miami Dolphins-New England Patriots game from Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA. Lance Barrow is the coordinating producer and lead game producer and Mike Arnold is the lead game director.

“THE NFL ON CBS’s” GREG GUMBEL SITS DOWN WITH INDIANAPOLIS COLTS HEAD COACH CHUCK PAGANO IN PREVIEW OF HIS RETURN TO SIDELINES AGAINST HOUSTON AFTER FIGHTHING LEUKEMIA FOR WEEK 17 OF “THE NFL TODAY” ON SUNDAY, DEC. 30

THE NFL ON CBS, home of Super Bowl XLVII and broadcasting its 53rd year of the NFL, continues its 2012 NFL season on Sunday, Dec. 30 (1:00-7:00 PM, ET) beginning with THE NFL TODAY (12:00 Noon-1:00 PM, ET).

THE NFL ON CBS’s Greg Gumbel previews the Houston Texans-Indianapolis Colts game with one of the most inspirational stories of the 2012 NFL season, an interview with Colts Head Coach Chuck Pagano as he returns to the sidelines for the first time since Week 3 after fighting leukemia.

When Pagano took the head coaching job of the Colts in January of this year, little did he know what would lie ahead for him and his team. Indianapolis started 1-2 with the rookie head coach and a rookie quarterback. During the Colts’ bye week in September, Pagano visited his doctor to check out some symptoms of fatigue and discoloration of his arms. The next thing Pagano knew, he was in the hospital receiving chemotherapy for leukemia.

Meanwhile, Offensive Coordinator Bruce Arians was appointed Interim Head Coach on October 1. Arians and his players promised Pagano that they would keep things going until his return. With Pagano’s inspiration, Arians’ coaching, Andrew Luck‘s growth at quarterback and the veteran leadership of All-Pro wide receiver Reggie Wayne, among others, the Colts won nine-of-their-next-12 games led by the chant, “1-2-3 Chuck!” Now with Pagano returning this week, he takes back the reigns of a playoff team. Along the way, Pagano’s heroic fight against cancer promoted countless “Chuckstrong” stories. Charlie Bloom is the producer.